Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy is a painless technique of injecting a small amount of a customized mixture of conventional pharmaceutical or homeopathic medications, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes into the mesoderm – or middle layer of skin. These very small doses of the substances are administered using very tiny needles in specific areas depending on the condition being treated. Mesotherapy is used to treat a broad range of illnesses and pain conditions. This minimally invasive approach has shown successful results in many areas: sports injuries, hair regrowth, alopecia, and cosmetic treatments.

Questions and Answers

On what areas of the body can Mesotherapy be used?
Mesotherapy may be used for cellulite, body fat reduction, body sculpturing and weight loss, facial rejuvenation (mesolift), and eye fat pads.

How does mesotherapy reduce cellulite?
This skin condition affects over 90% of females regardless of their weight or age. The lumpy and dimpled appearance of the skin that usually appears on the hips, buttocks, legs, and midsection is the result of connective tissue bands (septae) that hold down areas of the skin and trapping the fat, while other areas bulge outward, thereby resulting in the undesirable “orange peel” appearance. The mesotherapy formula is based on the grade of cellulite found. There are four stages of cellulite, each of which may require a different treatment.

The injected customized blend of medications interacts with the fat cell, encouraging the cell to release the fat within and allowing it to be burned as fuel. It also improves blood flow and lymphatic drainage of the target area, removes the fibrotic, connective tissue bands, and melts the excess of fat deposits. This results in a significant reduction of the “orange peel” skin appearance and in the loss of inches from the treated areas. Because cellulite is a chronic condition, the mesotherapy process of correcting it may require ten to fifteen (10 – 15) sessions.

Can it achieve the same results as liposuction?
For females and males who have an accumulation of fat in unwanted areas, mesotherapy is a non-invasive alternative to liposuction. However, the technique is not a complete replacement for liposuction. Mesotherapy is a suitable alternative for small area sculpturing or as an option for patients who may be not good surgical candidates for liposuction. The fat-burning mesotherapy injections can successfully reduce fat deposits from hips, thighs, waist, love handles, back, abdomen, arms, and double chins (or any other area where your body has unwanted pockets of fat).
Both males and females who are simultaneously engaged in a comprehensive system of diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation and hormone balancing will achieve the greatest benefit.

What is meant by body sculpting?
Cosmetic contouring of the abdomen, face, neck, back, bra-lines, legs, thighs, and hands can be achieved with mesotherapy injections. Vitamins and amino acids are injected to tighten sagging skin while additional mesotherapy medications are used to remove areas of fat, thereby restoring a more youthful and athletic appearance of the body without downtime from work. Based on individual requirements, the physician will select a formula that is injected under the skin where it will slowly diffuse into the fat and produce fat breakdown. Where successful, visible results measured in inches are usually achieved within 4 weeks and the treatments are long lasting when combined with exercise and a healthy lifestyle. The number of required treatments will vary.

Can mesotherapy be used for facial rejuvenation?
The mesolift is a mesotherapy approach to treat aging, sagging, and wrinkling of the skin involving the face and neck. It is also used to retard the progression of wrinkling and to rejuvenate ashen complexions. Mesotherapy helps to shrink fat from under the neck, remove free radical damage, and tighten loose skin. The effects rejuvenate the face, eyelids, and neck without the unnatural appearance and painful recovery of surgical alternatives.

Can mesotherapy be used to remove eye fat pads?
Mesotherapy has proven successful for reduction of the fat or puffy areas found under the eyes (the “tired” look). It can usually delay, or avoid, the need for future surgical removal of fat pads (lower eyelid blepharoplasty) and the possible complications associated with the surgery.

The Mesotherapy Technique
Mesotherapy must be performed by a licensed physician who has received proper training in performing mesotherapy procedures. Using a very fine needle (similar to the type used for Botox injections), the physician painlessly injects into the mesoderm (middle layer of skin) the specific formula to treat your condition. The needles penetrate the body at only a very small depth. The needle sticks are not felt by the patient because the skin is pinched by the physician prior to and during the injections. The number of injections and strength of each medication treatment is determined on an individual basis. Generally, patients require one treatment every ten to fourteen (10 – 14) days depending on the location and size of the area being treated. The injections are made at small distances (one inch intervals along the affected area) and in small doses per treatment.

The time frame between treatments, combined with small doses per session, provide the opportunity to observe and monitor its effects. Although mesotherapy microinjections are painless, for apprehensive patients and for those with low thresholds to pain, topical anesthetic skin creams are applied prior to the injections.
In some patients a technique of “multi-pricking” is used where a number of quick, very superficial injections are made at a specific site. “Multi-pricking” is performed by hand or by using a specially designed gun delivery system. Following the injections, the fat is emulsified (broken down) into fatty acids and burned off as energy and otherwise metabolized.

Are there any side effects?
The majority of patients experience minimal discomfort with mesotherapy. Some patients may develop minimal local pain, a minor burning sensation for a few hours, and temporary bruising. Itching and soreness may be experienced for a few days. Like any other injectable product, an allergic reaction may occur in some people. The procedure is performed in the office and takes minutes to complete.

How many treatments are required before I see results?
It depends on the patient’s body and the extent of the fat/cellulite/skin to be treated. Some patients see results after one treatment session while most patients require three to five (3 – 5) treatments to notice results. Often the patient’s clothing will become looser and the patient will appear thinner. Mesotherapy is more about losing inches than losing large amounts of weight. Some patients may require five to fifteen (5 – 15) treatments, and sometimes more.
Proper dietary lifestyle and nutritional supplementation are essential to achieve the best long-term results. Because aging is a dynamic process that cannot be stopped, mesotherapy injections are useful in preventing against the ravages of aging. Maintenance treatments of the face, neck, arms, and hands may be needed two to four (2 – 4) times a year.

Can I go back to work after treatment?
Yes. This office procedure takes less than 30 minutes per session and requires little preparation or recovery time. No heavy bandage or compression girdles are required.

How often can treatments be done?
In general, once every ten to fourteen days.

Are there any restrictions?
General restrictions vary depending upon the area(s) and the condition that was treated.
* Avoid vigorous exercise for forty-eight (48) hours.
* Avoid hot showers for six to eight (6 – 8) hours.
* Avoid application of makeup four (4) hours.
* Use loose clothing around the area treated immediately following the injections.

Will the fat that was removed from the treated areas return?
Mesotherapy removes the fat from the fat cell without destroying it. This helps your skin regain its natural appearance. If you gain weight after having mesotherapy, the fat will simply return to the treated area. The failure rate of mesotherapy has shown to be low (8 %). Exercise and diet in addition to mesotherapy have shown the best long-term results.

Who is a candidate for mesotherapy?
Healthy males and females are candidates for mesotherapy. Pregnant women, those with insulin dependent diabetes, severe heart disease, history of stroke or ischemic attack, recent cancer, cutaneous lesions, allergies to mesotherapy components, or those who are taking blood thinning medications, are not candidates for mesotherapy.

How much does mesotherapy cost?
Mesotherapy treatments typically cost from $300 – $450 per area per session, depending upon the size, location and difficulty of the area(s) being treated. If more than one area is to be treated per session, pricing may be determined on an individual basis.

Is mesotherapy different from liposuction?
Yes. Mesotherapy is a non-surgical medical treatment. Mesotherapy removes the fat from the fat cell, where liposuction removes the entire fat cell. Liposuction is a surgical procedure that requires anesthesia (local, regional, or general). Mesotherapy does not require anesthesia nor recovery time.

However, mesotherapy is not a replacement for liposuction. Mesotherapy is applicable for the reduction of small areas of unwanted fat spots, cellulite and skin rejuvenation. Mesotherapy is best suited for men and women who are not excessively overweight but, instead, have certain problem areas with stubborn fat that can no longer be reduced by diet and exercise. These patients want liposuction but are hesitant to undergo a surgical procedure. The downside with mesotherapy is mainly that the results are gradual when compared with the immediate results that liposuction offers.
Mesotherapy has shown excellent results to smoothen and reduce uneven fat spots that may persist after liposuction, thereby avoiding the need for additional touch-up liposuction procedures. Mesotherapy and liposuction are not competitive procedures but, rather, they complement each other. In our experience, mesotherapy injections have shown great results when combined with liposuction. Mesotherapy is an excellent initial alternative to liposuction for minor to medium body sculpting of specific areas of the body such as the stomach, upper arms, thighs, chin, hips, and so forth.